Since 1991, the legal basis for these services has been provided by Book Eight of the Social Code (SGB VIII), which obliges public youth welfare organizations - i.e. the administrative districts and autonomous towns - to provide services aimed at preventing problems.
Desde 1991, el Libro Ocho del Código Social (SGB VIII) constituye la base jurídica de esos servicios, ya que prevé que las organizaciones públicas de bienestar de la juventud, o sea, los distritos administrativos y ciudades autónomas, proporcionen servicios de carácter preventivo.